LIEUT. AUDUBON, REVOLUTIONIST 83 
at a sum which at that day would have been fabulous." 
The business house in which he was interested failed; his 
plantations, refinery, houses and stores, the rents from 
which, as we have seen, in certain years after 1789, had 
yielded 90,000 francs, were presumably ravaged and 
partially destroyed. When the news of this misfortune 
reached him after 1792, his hands were tied by revolu- 
tions at home. Though he applied to his Government 
for relief, as undoubtedly did a host of other losers, he 
was eventually granted only a small indemnity, not 
exceeding 80,000 francs. 
Friends of Jean Audubon at Nantes had made re- 
peated demands of the Ministry of Marine that he be 
given a rank more in accord with his patriotism and effi- 
cient service to the State, and on October 11, 1797, he 
was commissioned lieutenant-commander (lieutenant de 
vaisseau) ,*” one grade below that of captain. He held 
this rank for three years, during which he was engaged 
in vigilance service at Les Sables d’Olonne and in mili- 
tary duty at Rochefort, or until he was retired from 
the navy for disability, January 1, 1801 (le 11 nivose, 
an 9), at the age of fifty-seven.’* He had served the 
uM. L. Lavigne writes that he possesses a copy of a letter addressed 
by M. G. L. du Puigaudeau to a lawyer in Paris, in which it is stated 
that Lieutenant Audubon’s losses amounted to 1,500,000 francs. After 
making due allowance for the psychological tendency to overestimate losses, 
especially when sustained in remote and romantic lands, the true amount 
was no doubt large. 
2Or “lieutenant of a frigate,’ and corresponding to “mate” in the 
merchant marine. 
3The certificate which Lieutenant Audubon received at the time of 
his discharge is preserved among the Lavigne manuscripts and docu- 
ments at Couéron, and is headed: 
Port ETAT des Services du Citoyen Jean Audubon natif des 
DE Sables d’Ollonne Département de La Vendée 4gé de 
RocHeErort. 58 ans. 
It is signed by the Chief of Administration, Daniel, the Naval Com- 
mander-in-Chief of the District, Martin, and by the naval commissioner 
and clerk, February 26, 1801 (le sept Ventose, an 9 de la République). 
